Bulwark Takes

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Hegseth’s Livestreamed Execution Exposes His Pathetic Tough-Guy Act Oct 09, 2026

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Sam Stein and Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) give their takes on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s plan to livestream the execution of the Fort Hood shooter, Nidal Hasan, and why turning an execution into a public spectacle raises serious moral questions. Hertling explains the potential toll on soldiers ordered to carry out the firing squad and warns that the spectacle could inflame tensions rather than deter future attacks.

After we recorded, Vice President JD Vance addressed Hegseth’s plan, saying he wasn’t sure the livestream would actually happen and adding, “If it’s ultimately livestreamed, I’m not gonna be watching it.”

They also break down the latest developments in the Iran war, including Trump’s pledge not to launch new attacks before the midterm elections, the growing risks of further escalation across the region, and newly released footage showing Iranian drone strikes on U.S. military installations in the Middle East. The Pentagon’s $43.6 billion estimate for the cost of the war may dramatically understate the damage as we look at the destroyed military equipment and facilities and the munition supply spent.

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Democrats Aren’t Winning Because They’re Brilliant. It’s Trump. Oct 09, 2026

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Tim Miller, Sam Stein, and Democratic strategist Lis Smith join a live audience at Dartmouth for a spirited debate about Trump’s collapsing political fortunes, the GOP’s future under JD Vance, the Democrats’ struggle to rebuild their coalition, and the wide-open 2028 presidential race. Plus, a sobering question: What happens if Trump loses Congress and decides to go rogue?

JD Vance Humiliates Himself Trying to Define "Socialism" Oct 09, 2026

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Tim Miller gives his take on JD Vance’s fumbling attempt to define socialism and the hypocrisy at the heart of MAGA’s attacks on Democrats. Asked why socialist candidates are gaining ground across the country, Vance pivots to immigration and transgender athletes instead of explaining what socialism actually means.
But while Republicans warn that Democrats are bringing socialism to America, the Trump administration is expanding government control over the economy, intervening in private enterprise, and using the power of the state to target political enemies.

Tim explains why the administration’s own policies undermine its anti-socialist rhetoric, how Vance’s answer exposes the weakness of MAGA’s midterm message, and why the word games are more than just a political joke.

This episode is sponsored by The New York Times.

We Spoke to the Guy Who Snitched on Kimberly Guilfoyle (w/ Eric Deters) Oct 08, 2026

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Sam Stein speaks with Eric Deters, the man at the center of the Wall Street Journal’s explosive report on Kimberly Guilfoyle. Deters describes his relationship with Guilfoyle, the hundreds of thousands of dollars he spent in Trump world, and his claims that she promised access and favors in exchange for money.

Deters explains why he came forward and why he says Guilfoyle asked him for another $100,000 to pay off her credit card. He also details her attempts to connect him with Tucker Carlson and Billy Long, her warnings to stop putting things in writing, and why he now says, “I feel like a dumbass.”

Lawsuits against Dr. Abubakar Atiq Durrani alleged that more than 500 patients received unnecessary surgeries. However, there are no precise numbers as to how many patients in total received those surgeries, how many children received those surgeries or how many of them died because of those procedures.

In addition, Jared Kushner received a $2 billion investment for his private equity firm from Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, not a $3 billion investment.

This episode is sponsored by The New York Times.

BOMBSHELL: Leaked Kimberly Guilfoyle Texts Reveal Brazen Corruption Oct 08, 2026

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Sam Stein, Marc Polymeropoulos, and Michael Weiss are going live to take on the bombshell Wall Street Journal report that reveals Kimberly Guilfoyle’s extraordinary private messages with a Trump donor, including a $100,000 request to pay her Amex bill and repeated warnings to stop creating a paper trail.

Read the Wall Street Journal's reporting: https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/guilfoyle-amex-donor-100-000-0e02cdc3?st=8Rg5Hy&reflink=article_copyURL_share

Susan Collins Couldn't Answer One Simple Question About Trump Oct 07, 2026

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Will Saletan breaks down the Maine Senate debate between Republican incumbent Susan Collins and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson, and why Collins is struggling to separate herself from Donald Trump in a state where the president remains deeply unpopular.

Jackson repeatedly tied Collins to Trump on the Iran war, tariffs, abortion, health care and the Republican tax and spending bill, while Collins tried to emphasize her independence and point to the work she has done for Maine. But with Collins having cast several crucial votes for Trump’s agenda, Will explains why her strategy of distancing herself from the president may be difficult to sell to voters.

Republicans Are Panicking Over the Kansas Senate Race Oct 07, 2026

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Lauren Egan travels to Kansas to report on one of the most surprising Senate races of the 2026 midterms, where Democrat Adam Hamilton is running neck-and-neck with Republican incumbent Roger Marshall. A new New York Times poll shows the race in a dead heat, and Republicans are now pouring millions of dollars into Kansas as they scramble to defend a seat they once considered safe.

Hamilton, a former pastor, makes the case that rising costs, health care concerns, tariffs and the war in Iran are pushing some Kansas voters away from Republicans. He also argues that Democrats can win back voters in the heartland by moving toward the center and focusing on affordability, dignity and bipartisan problem-solving.

Lauren talks with Hamilton supporters about why they think Kansas could finally be ready to elect a Democrat to the Senate for the first time in nearly a century, and asks Hamilton how he plans to win over Republicans and voters who remain skeptical of the Democratic Party.

Hegseth’s Grand Plan for the Military Raises Major Red Flags Oct 07, 2026

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Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) and Ben Parker discuss the U.S. decision to pull B-1 bombers out of the United Kingdom over concerns about Iranian drone attacks, and what the move reveals about the changing nature of modern warfare. They examine the growing vulnerability of U.S. military bases, the risks to American forces at home and abroad, and what the threat means for NATO and America’s alliances.

Plus, Hertling breaks down Pete Hegseth’s six new Pentagon initiatives, including Project Meridian, a new effort to study the future of warfare led by Elon Musk, Palmer Luckey, and Newt Gingrich. They also examine Hegseth’s proposed autonomous warfare command and a new Office of Religious Affairs.

Ex-CIA Officer Reacts to Insane Spy Scandal Rocking the Intelligence World Oct 06, 2026

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Reporter Michael Weiss and former CIA officer Marc Polymeropoulos break down a staggering spy scandal involving the former head of German intelligence, an alleged Iranian plot targeting U.S. bombers in Britain, and the increasingly strange questions surrounding Kimberly Guilfoyle in Greece. Plus: why Russian intelligence operatives are suspected of leaving a particularly vile calling card in politicians’ homes.

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Morning Shots: Republicans are Worried They'll Lose South Carolina Oct 06, 2026

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Ben Parker and Bill Kristol discuss Donald Trump’s increasingly frantic attacks as Republicans face a surprisingly competitive Senate race in South Carolina, including Trump’s use of an anti-trans slur against Democratic candidate Annie Andrews. They examine what the race says about the Republican Party’s standing heading into the midterms and whether Democrats could make gains in traditionally red states.

Plus, Ben and Bill dig into the corruption allegations surrounding Trump’s foreign policy, including his family’s business interests and deals involving Russia, Venezuela and the Middle East. They also discuss the withdrawal of U.S. B-1 bombers from Britain, the broader retreat of American power in Europe, and concerns over a mysterious illness linked to a plague research facility in Russia.

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